AMD EPYC 9455P vs AMD EPYC 9734 Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data presents a clear split between two very different processor designs. The AMD EPYC 9734, a 112-core Bergamo part from the EPYC 9004 series, and the AMD EPYC 9455P, a 48-core Turin part from the EPYC 9005 series, trade blows across the test suite. The EPYC 9455P claims 11 benchmark wins against 6 for the EPYC 9734, but the magnitude and direction of those wins tell the real story.

The EPYC 9455P dominates the Cinebench suite with remarkable consistency. In Cinebench R15 multicore, the 9455P scores 9999 against 8763 for the 9734, a 12.4% advantage. The single-core R15 result shows 1411 versus 1237, a 12.3% gap. This pattern repeats across every Cinebench generation. R20 multicore: 41666 against 36516, a 12.4% lead. R20 single-core: 5882 versus 5155, also 12.4%. R23 multicore: 99206 versus 86943, again 12.4%. R23 single-core: 14005 versus 12274, once more 12.4%. The consistency of that 12.4% delta across all three Cinebench versions suggests a fundamental architectural advantage rather than a workload-specific quirk.

The PassMark suite reveals a very different picture. The EPYC 9734 wins the throughput-oriented tests by substantial margins. Data compression shows 2900008 for the 9734 versus 1928897 for the 9455P, a 50.3% advantage. Data encryption: 179390 against 115403, a 55.4% lead. Extended instructions: 205925 versus 137485, a 49.8% edge. Floating point math: 549045 versus 357783, a 53.5% margin. Integer math: 823150 versus 606239, a 35.8% advantage. Random string sorting: 357638 versus 242701, a 47.4% lead. These are massive wins, all exceeding 35% and several exceeding 50%.

The EPYC 9455P counters with wins in PassMark multithread (116927 versus 102286, a 12.5% lead), physics (17315 versus 6747, a 61% advantage), and find prime numbers (1107 versus 829, a 25.1% edge). The single-thread PassMark result is decisive for the 9455P: 3745 versus 2310, a 38.3% gap. The physics result is particularly striking, a 61% difference that represents the largest single delta in the entire comparison.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different generations and use different core designs. The EPYC 9734 belongs to the EPYC 9004 series, built on the Zen 4 architecture with the Bergamo codename. It uses a 5 nm process from TSMC with 71,000 million transistors spread across 8 dies of 73 mm² each. The EPYC 9455P belongs to the EPYC 9005 series, using the Zen 5 architecture with the Turin codename. It uses a 4 nm process from the same foundry, with 66,520 million transistors across 8 dies of 70.6 mm² each.

Core counts differ dramatically. The 9734 packs 112 cores and 224 threads, while the 9455P offers 48 cores and 96 threads. That is 64 fewer cores and 128 fewer threads for the newer part. The clock speeds reflect the design tradeoff. The 9734 runs at a 2.20 GHz base clock and a 3.00 GHz boost clock. The 9455P runs at 3.15 GHz base and 4.40 GHz boost, substantially higher at both ends.

Cache configurations show both similarities and differences. Both processors share 256 MB of L3 cache. The L1 cache differs: 64 KB per core for the 9734 versus 80 KB per core for the 9455P. Both use 1 MB of L2 per core. The memory systems use the same twelve-channel DDR5 bus, but the bandwidth differs: 460.8 GB/s for the 9734 versus 576.0 GB/s for the 9455P. Both support ECC memory and use AMD Socket SP5. Both offer Gen 5 PCIe with 128 lanes from the CPU. The 9734 has no integrated graphics listed, while the 9455P is listed as N/A for integrated graphics. TDP ratings are close but not identical: 340 W for the 9734 versus 300 W for the 9455P.

The release dates reflect the generational gap. The 9734 launched on 2023-06-12, while the 9455P launched on 2024-10-09. The launch MSRP for the 9734 is $9600, and the launch MSRP for the 9455P is $4819.

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark results point to distinct use cases for each processor. The EPYC 9734 excels in workloads that scale with core count and raw throughput. Its wins in data compression, data encryption, extended instructions, floating point math, integer math, and random string sorting all exceed 35% over the 9455P. These are the kinds of workloads that benefit from having 112 cores and 224 threads available to chew through large parallel workloads. The 50.3% compression lead and the 55.4% encryption lead are particularly notable, suggesting the 9734 is the stronger choice for database workloads, compression pipelines, and cryptographic processing.

The EPYC 9455P wins in the Cinebench suite across the board, with every test showing a 12.4% advantage. It also wins PassMark multithread, physics, find prime numbers, and single-thread tests. The single-thread advantage is massive at 38.3%, and the physics advantage is even larger at 61%. These results indicate the 9455P is better suited for workloads that depend on per-core performance, higher clock speeds, and the newer Zen 5 architecture. The physics result, in particular, suggests strong performance in simulation and physics-heavy applications that may not scale perfectly across hundreds of threads.

The multithread result is interesting: the 9455P wins PassMark multithread by 12.5% despite having 64 fewer cores. This suggests that the combination of higher clocks and the Zen 5 architecture more than compensates for the core deficit in this particular test. The find prime numbers result, where the 9455P leads by 25.1%, reinforces the pattern of the newer architecture handling integer-heavy single-threaded workloads more efficiently.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The AMD EPYC 9734 has 112 cores and 224 threads, while the AMD EPYC 9455P has 48 cores and 96 threads.

Q: Which processor wins the Cinebench multicore tests?

A: The AMD EPYC 9455P wins all three Cinebench multicore tests by 12.4%. Scores are 9999 versus 8763 in R15, 41666 versus 36516 in R20, and 99206 versus 86943 in R23.

Q: Which processor has the larger L3 cache?

A: Both processors have the same 256 MB of shared L3 cache. The L1 cache differs, with 64 KB per core for the 9734 and 80 KB per core for the 9455P.

Q: What is the biggest benchmark margin between the two?

A: The largest delta is in PassMark physics, where the AMD EPYC 9455P leads by 61% with a score of 17315 against 6747 for the EPYC 9734.

Q: Which processor has the higher boost clock?

A: The AMD EPYC 9455P has a boost clock of 4.40 GHz, compared to 3.00 GHz for the AMD EPYC 9734. The base clocks are 3.15 GHz and 2.20 GHz respectively.

Q: Do both processors use the same socket and memory type?

A: Yes, both use AMD Socket SP5 and support DDR5 memory with a twelve-channel memory bus. The memory bandwidth differs: 576.0 GB/s for the 9455P versus 460.8 GB/s for the 9734.

The Verdict

The data supports a clear split based on workload type. For throughput-oriented server workloads that can use every available core, the AMD EPYC 9734 is the stronger choice. Its wins in data compression, encryption, floating point math, integer math, and random string sorting all exceed 35%, with several surpassing 50%. The 112-core configuration provides massive parallel throughput that the 48-core 9455P cannot match in these specific workloads.

For applications that depend on single-threaded performance, higher clock speeds, or the efficiency of the newer Zen 5 architecture, the AMD EPYC 9455P is the better option. It wins every Cinebench test by 12.4%, leads single-thread PassMark by 38.3%, and dominates the physics test by 61%. The 9455P also achieves these results while drawing 40 W less power, with a TDP of 300 W versus 340 W for the 9734.

The launch MSRP difference is notable: $9600 for the 9734 versus $4819 for the 9455P. The 9734 sits in the 99th percentile of all CPUs with an average benchmark score of 310619. The 9455P also sits in the 99th percentile with an average score of 217854. The 9734's nearest rival is the AMD EPYC 9575F at 311774, a 0.4% difference. The 9455P's nearest rival is the Intel Xeon w9-3595X at 209881, a 3.8% gap.

Specification Differences

| Specification | AMD EPYC 9734 | AMD EPYC 9455P |

|---|---|---|

| Series | EPYC 9004 series | EPYC 9005 series |

| Cores | 112 | 48 |

| Threads | 224 | 96 |

| Base Clock | 2.20 GHz | 3.15 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 3.00 GHz | 4.40 GHz |

| TDP | 340 W | 300 W |

| Architecture | Zen 4 | Zen 5 |

| Codename | Bergamo | Turin |

| Process Node | 5 nm | 4 nm |

| Transistors | 71,000 million | 66,520 million |

| Die Size | 8x 73 mm² | 8x 70.6 mm² |

| L1 Cache | 64 KB (per core) | 80 KB (per core) |

| L2 Cache | 1 MB (per core) | 1 MB (per core) |

| L3 Cache | 256 MB (shared) | 256 MB (shared) |

| Memory Bandwidth | 460.8 GB/s | 576.0 GB/s |

| Release Date | 2023-06-12 | 2024-10-09 |

| Launch MSRP | $9600 | $4819 |

| Part Number | 100-000001235 | 100-000001563 |

Both processors share the same AMD Socket SP5, DDR5 memory support, twelve-channel memory bus, ECC memory support, Gen 5 PCIe with 128 lanes, and a locked multiplier. Both are active production parts in the Server/Workstation market segment. The average benchmark scores differ substantially: 310619 for the 9734 versus 217854 for the 9455P, though both rank in the 99th percentile of all CPUs.